Compared to its neighboring capital, Bratislava may not be as popular as Prague under the tourist radar. However, the capital city of Slovakia is a great place to go for budget travelers.
While the city is well worth visiting, most people usually only come to Bratislava on a day trip from other European cities; one of the most popular ones is from Vienna, where you can go on a day trip from Vienna to Bratislava by bus or a boat, depending on your budget.
Whether you plan to stay overnight in Bratislava or just want to stop by the city for less than 24 hours, Pashmina from The Gone Goat is going to share what to do in Bratislava for budget travelers in a day. Let's dive in!
The quiet and quaint Bratislava in Slovakia is one of the most unassuming and underrated cities in Central Europe.
You can experience how a 25-year-old country managed to carve its own identity compared to the popular neighboring destinations like Vienna and Budapest.
Starting with sight-seeing, you can visit the alien-like UFO space-ship dotting the skyline of Bratislava for 8 euros.
The UFO Tower is a great piece of work by the '70s of the Communist times with a circular observation deck overlooking Danube River and a retro cafe serving cocktails.
2. Stop by a local Slovak pub
Let down your hair and visit the Slovak pub, and try their traditional Slovak dish – the Bryndzové Halušky, that resembles a gnocchi-pasta dish.
The Halušky contains potato dumpling with sheep cheese and bacon bits. Couple this with a Slovak lager or a Kofola drink, a cheaper alternative to Coca-cola served during the communist times. For that, you get a traditional meal for $10.
Bryndzové Halušky.
3. Nibble some Slovak treats
If you're in for traditional Slovak treats, pastries, and souvenirs – Zeppelin Cafe and Souvenirs is the ultimate place to get at least 8 things for less than $20.
The minute you enter, you will be greeted by their warm staff and see their vast array of cakes and pastries. Try their carrot cake for 2 Euros, their traditional Bratislava rolls for 1.10 Euros and spend the remaining money on souvenirs such as Slovak handmade ceramics, magnets and local spirits.
4. Explore Bratislava Old Town
To end your budget trip, head over to Devin Castle on bus no.29 which takes 20 minutes and costs you about 0.90 Euro.
Not far from the old town and its medieval St Michael's gate, lie Devin Castle's ruins. You will get to see the fall of the Iron Curtain and other memorials for an entrance fee of 5 Euros which commemorates the haunting period in which several hundred people lost their lives trying to get across to the West.
St. Michael Street, Bratislava.
After you're done, grab a drink at one of the cafes for 2-3 Euros as you ponder over this dark period in history.
Pashmina writes about her adventures like hiking and bicycle touring to inspire others to be outstanding in their own way. She finds happiness in getting out of her comfort zone, pushing her limits and visiting remote, undiscovered places around the world.
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